Writer: Stacie Yeung

In recent years, more and more people in Hong Kong go camping in light of the pandemic and to escape the city's hustle and bustle, resulting in an increase in demand for tents.  Apart from traditional tents, have you ever heard of solar-powered tents? To help attendees of the music festival keep their bearings and get their phones and other electric appliances charged while on site, two companies called Kaleidoscope and Orange are developing solar tents. 

The two companies plan to make use of new technology--solar fabric or textile to make solar tents. Solar fabric, also known as photovoltaic fabric or solar material, incorporates solar cells or photovoltaic (PV) cells into its structure, allowing it to generate electricity from sunlight. The solar cells are made of thin, flexible materials that can be woven into the fabric. There will be three directional glides which can be moved throughout the day to maximize its solar efficiency. It would power essential small appliances, including mobile phones, laptops, and cameras. Some of them come with additional features designed to enhance the camping experience such as built-in LED lighting, central heating, and USB ports. The built-in solar panels are designed to be lightweight and flexible. It is believed that it will gain popularity among outdoor enthusiasts and hit the market.   

Not only will campers enjoy outdoor activities in remote locations when easily having access to electricity for charging any devices, but they will also reduce reliance on traditional power sources like portable power banks. In addition to being a convenient source of power, solar-powered tents are also environmentally friendly and sustainable. 

Even though the aforementioned solar tent is still a concept, there are other kinds of solar-powered tents that are available in Hong Kong and we can buy them online.  It is expected there would be growing demands for these types of tents soon with evolving and advancement of technology. More of these are needed to make camping more fun for everyone while also encouraging eco-camping. 

Source: 
https://www.mortonsonthemove.com/solar-powered-tent/
https://www.inspiredcamping.com/solar-powered-tent/
https://www.solarfabric.com/what-is-a-solar-tent/
https://www.solarfabric.com/
https://www.cnet.com/culture/orange-unveils-solar-concept-tent-at-glastonbury/

Image Source:
https://www.inspiredcamping.com/solar-powered-tent/